Bill Johanesen
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ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro RG Ed Ingram From a scrimmage standpoint, no starter on either side of the ball has struggled more than rookie right guard Ed Ingram. Seen by some analysts as a reach of a pick when he was taken in the second round out of LSU in April, Ingram beat out veterans Jesse Davis and Chris Reed in training camp for the starting job. Even for a rookie getting his first taste of NFL action, it's been a rough go. There are 42 NFL guards that have played at least 400 snaps this season. Ingram ranks 34th out of that group in overall PFF grade, but he ranks 41st in pass block grade. He has allowed 28 pressures, second-most among all offensive linemen and five more than the next-closest guard. He's allowed six sacks, per PFF, which is tied for second among all players and two more than any other guard. In seven games this season, Ingram has had a pass blocking grade below 37 five times, including an abysmal 16.9 grade against the Cardinals. He also allowed season highs in sacks (2) and pressures (6) against Arizona. Ingram is legitimately a good run blocker, but he's in the Dakota Dozier, Dru Samia, and pre-2022 Garrett Bradbury range as a pass protector right now. That's a major weakness for an offense that is basically firing on all cylinders everywhere else. It's one that opposing defenses will continue to exploit, potentially with drive-changing plays, until Ingram improves or is replaced. Vikings coaches haven't publicly said anything about being concerned with Ingram's play, but it's undoubtedly something they've noticed and discussed. Unlike at kicker, there's a clear possible replacement on the roster in Reed, the journeyman veteran who played for the Colts last season. Yes, there's a reason why he lost the training camp battle and has been inactive every week, but he also has 29 career starts for a reason. The Vikings still believe in Ingram's potential and hope he figures it out. But in a season where the focus is winning a Super Bowl, do they have time to wait for that to happen? I'm not sure they do. If it were up to me, I'd be seriously considering a move to Reed or someone else — Blake Brandel? Austin Schlottmann? — at right guard. That sentence took the pro-Reed argument south in a hurry, especially when he blasts Dozier (23 starts).
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